Aaron Rodgers Age: How Old Is the Steelers QB in 2026?
Aaron Rodgers' age is 42 years old as of October 2026. Born on December 2, 1983, in Chico, California, Rodgers is not just one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time — he is, in the 2026 season, the oldest active player in the NFL. The "aaron rodgers age" question carries extra weight this year because the four-time MVP has announced that the 2026 campaign — his 22nd NFL season and second with the Pittsburgh Steelers — will be his last, which he has taken to calling "his last rodeo."
ESPN's season-long tracker, updated in October 2026, follows Rodgers as he chases the final milestones of a career that already includes a Super Bowl title, four MVP awards, and a place among the all-time leaders in passing yards and touchdowns.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Aaron Charles Rodgers |
| Born / Age | December 2, 1983 — 42 years old (as of Oct 2026) |
| Birthplace | Chico, California |
| Profession | NFL quarterback (Pittsburgh Steelers) |
| Net Worth | Not publicly verified by a top-tier outlet |
| Spouse | Not married |
| Children | None |
| Education | Butte College; UC Berkeley |
| Known For | 4 NFL MVPs, Super Bowl XLV title, 22 NFL seasons |
Aaron Rodgers' Birthday and Early Life
Aaron Rodgers was born on December 2, 1983, in Chico, California. A standout at Pleasant Valley High School, he was surprisingly light on college recruiting interest — he spent a year at Butte College, a community college in nearby Oroville, before transferring to the University of California, Berkeley in 2003.
At Cal, he quickly seized the starting job, guiding the Golden Bears to a 10–2 record and a No. 9 final AP ranking in 2004 while earning first-team All-Pac-10 honors. After the Holiday Bowl loss, he skipped his senior year and declared for the 2005 NFL Draft.
His draft slide remains one of the great draft-day stories: projected by some as the No. 1 pick, Rodgers fell all the way to the 24th overall selection, where the Green Bay Packers took him. He was 21 years old on draft day — and, as a Sporting News piece noted in 2026, some of his current Steelers teammates weren't even born when he entered the league.
How Old Was Rodgers at His Career Milestones?
Rodgers' age is the frame through which his entire career reads:
- 21 — Drafted 24th overall by the Green Bay Packers in 2005; backed up Brett Favre for three seasons.
- 27 — Won Super Bowl XLV with the Packers (2010 season), earning Super Bowl MVP.
- 28, 31, 37, 38 — Won NFL MVP awards in 2011, 2014, 2020, and 2021 — four MVPs, second only to Peyton Manning's five.
- 39 — Traded to the New York Jets in 2023; tore his Achilles four snaps into his Jets debut.
- 41 — Signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025.
- 42 — Playing his 22nd and final NFL season in 2026.
In 2025 he passed former teammate Brett Favre for sole possession of fourth place in career touchdown passes, and moved past Ben Roethlisberger for fifth in all-time passing yards. Entering October 2026, per ESPN's tracker, he sat at 537 career touchdown passes and was closing in on becoming just the fourth quarterback in history to appear in 300 games (Tom Brady, Favre, and Drew Brees are the others) and the fifth to reach 70,000 passing yards.
The 2026 Season: The Oldest Player in the League
At 42, Rodgers is the oldest player in the NFL in 2026 — and, by his own account, playing on borrowed time. Before the season he announced it would be his last, setting up a farewell tour through the league's record books.
Through the first five weeks of the 2026 season, per sports data outlets, he had thrown for 999 yards with 7 touchdowns and 4 interceptions across 4 games for the Steelers — uneven, as SI noted after his win over the Colts in mid-October (235 yards, 3 touchdowns, no interceptions), but punctuated by the vintage throws that defined his prime. His one-year Steelers contract is reportedly worth up to $25 million, per Adam Schefter's reporting.
For perspective on just how long 22 seasons is: when Rodgers was drafted in April 2005, Steelers backup quarterback Mason Rudolph was nine years old. His youngest teammates were toddlers. The 42-year-old's locker-room authority is, in a sense, generational.
Teams: Packers, Jets, Steelers
Rodgers' career divides cleanly into three eras:
1. Green Bay Packers (2005–2022) — 18 seasons, the Super Bowl XLV title, all four MVP awards, and 10 Pro Bowl selections. One of the most statistically efficient passers ever, he holds the NFL's all-time career passer rating record. 2. New York Jets (2023–2024) — Two seasons derailed by the Achilles injury four plays into his 2023 debut; he returned to play through 2024. 3. Pittsburgh Steelers (2025–present) — Signed in 2025, then re-signed for the 2026 season, which he has declared his last.
Personal Life
Rodgers has never married and has no children. His high-profile past relationships — including with actress Olivia Munn, race car driver Danica Patrick, and actress Shailene Woodley (to whom he was briefly engaged) — kept him in celebrity headlines through his 30s. In recent years he has kept his private life lower-profile while remaining one of football's most outspoken figures on everything from wellness to media criticism — often in long-form interviews such as his recurring appearances on Joe Rogan's podcast.
His family relationships have also drawn attention: a long-reported estrangement from his parents and brothers has been covered extensively, though Rodgers himself rarely discusses it in detail.
What's Next After the "Last Rodeo"?
When the 2026 season ends, Rodgers will walk away at 43 with a résumé that guarantees first-ballot Hall of Fame induction: four MVPs, a Super Bowl ring, and top-five all-time marks in yards and touchdowns. Whether he follows fellow football legend Tom Brady — who turned a record playing career into a $375 million Fox Sports analyst deal — into broadcasting, joins the ex-player media world that includes Shannon Sharpe, or builds an athlete-media brand like Logan Paul has in combat sports, is the next great question: what does a 43-year-old legend do with the rest of his life?
Whatever comes next, his final-season milestone chase — 300 games, 70,000 yards — gives fans a weekly reason to watch the oldest player in football finish the story on his own terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Aaron Rodgers?
Aaron Rodgers is 42 years old as of October 2026. He was born on December 2, 1983, in Chico, California, and he will turn 43 in December 2026.
What team does Aaron Rodgers play for?
The Pittsburgh Steelers. He signed with Pittsburgh in 2025 after two seasons with the New York Jets and 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers. The 2026 season is his second with the Steelers.
Is Aaron Rodgers retiring?
Yes — Rodgers has announced that the 2026 season, his 22nd in the NFL, will be his last. He has referred to it as "his last rodeo."
How many MVPs has Aaron Rodgers won?
Four NFL MVP awards (2011, 2014, 2020, 2021) — second only to Peyton Manning's five. He also won Super Bowl MVP in the Packers' Super Bowl XLV victory.
Is Aaron Rodgers the oldest player in the NFL?
Yes. At 42, Rodgers is the oldest active player in the NFL during the 2026 season.
Is Aaron Rodgers married?
No. Aaron Rodgers has never married and has no children. He was previously engaged to actress Shailene Woodley and has had high-profile relationships with Olivia Munn and Danica Patrick.
